ECLIPSE - TOTAL SOLAR
CEDUNA & WIRRAMINNA - SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2002
After deciding at Pt Augusta, we ended up at Wirraminna. For the four of us we agreed
it was spectacular especially all being virgins. I have placed some comments on the eclipse in the December Newsletter and will add them
here when they are done.
To receive our Newsletter contact us via the link at the bottom
of the page.
- The Moon will cover 7/8 (88%) of the Sun in Adelaide
- Travel North West from Adelaide for increased totality
- Getting up higher is better and keep the South West Clear
- Use Eclipse Glasses for observing the Eclipse
- Eclipse Glasses can be ordered Ph: 08 8381 3188
Small-$5 Large-$8
*Please note - Our Solar Eclipse Glasses are certified and approved safe by German, British
and American Standards. These glasses have not been tested for certification in Australia*
After deciding at Pt Augusta, we ended up at Wirraminna. For the four of us we agreed it was spectacular especially all being virgins. I have placed some comments on the eclipse in the December Newsletter and will add them here when they are done.
To receive our Newsletter contact us via the link at the bottom of the page.
- The Moon will cover 7/8 (88%) of the Sun in Adelaide
- Travel North West from Adelaide for increased totality
- Getting up higher is better and keep the South West Clear
- Use Eclipse Glasses for observing the Eclipse
- Eclipse Glasses can be ordered Ph: 08 8381 3188
Small-$5 Large-$8
*Please note - Our Solar Eclipse Glasses are certified and approved safe by German, British and American Standards. These glasses have not been tested for certification in Australia*
BASED IN ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
- INFORMATION
- PRODUCTS
- SERVICES
Watch The Eclipse Replay Via The CSIRO Web Site
This page will be Updated up until the Eclipse.
For a solar eclipse to occur, a 'New Moon' must be between us and the Sun. Normally, the Moon can only be seen because of the Sun reflecting off the Moon's surface. A New Moon cannot be usually seen because the Sun is somewhere behind it.
- Eclipse is higher in the sky (3 degrees)
- Totality is longer (6 seconds)
- Greater chance of clouds
- More amenities
- More people
- Around 800km from Adelaide
I'll be there! :-)
- Lower in the Sky (3 degrees), but a higher vantage point can be obtained
- Shorter totality (6 seconds)
- Less chance of clouds
- More sites to see: Flinders Ranges, escaped refugees etc.
- Less amenities
- Less people
- Around 600km from Adelaide
As the Sun is half covered, the sky changes to an unusual gun metal grey colour. The darkness in the western half of the sky is predominate. The Earth gives up its heat as it is no longer being heated by the Sun. This causes a slight breeze due to the air cooling faster than the Earth.
(Eastern Sky)
Just before totality, the Sun has many bright lights or beads near its edge. This is because of the mountains, hills and valleys around the edge of the Moon with the light shining between them. This is called "Baily's Beads". The last of the Baily Beads visible is called the Diamond Ring Effect (the last Baily Bead being the diamond and the corona of the Sun around the Moon being the ring). During a Total Solar Eclipse, the ring part of the Diamond Ring Effect may not be seen due to the Sun being totally covered.
Also, just before totality, better if you have a high vantage point, the Moon's shadow can be seen racing along the ground towards the observer from the direction of WSW (west by south west).
As the Diamond Ring disappears, this is called Second Contact.
The Sun and Moon will be setting together in a Partial Eclipse.
- Get up high if you can.
- Know where WSW (west by south west) is for the Moons
shadow rapidly approaching.
- The Sun will be fairly low in the sky so make sure the western horizon is clear.
- Looking at the Sun even for a few seconds can cause irreversible damage.
- Using filters in the eyepiece are dangerous because the heat is concentrated on the eyepiece. One crack....
possible blindness.
- During totality, and only during totality, it is safe to view the eclipse with the unaided eye. Eyes should be immediately averted as the Diamond Ring Effect (first hint of Sun reappearing) appears once again.
Using a pinhole in a piece of cardboard so that the Sun's image can be projected through the pinhole onto the white cardboard.
The effect of an eclipse on tree leaves is fascinating. The small gaps in the trees allow light to get through and act as a pinhole projector (see above). The effect shows hundreds of little crescents, mimicking the eclipse, projected from the the image of the eclipse.
A welder's filter No. 12-14 can be used safely to view the eclipse.
Filter caps which fit over the end of your telescope are available. Let us know your telescope diameter.
Solar projection onto a piece of cardboard or similar is a good way to view the Sun Spots and eclipse. If your using a large reflecting telescope only use a small hole to gather the light. A cheap eyepiece like Huygen (Hoi-gen) or Ramsden are best. They do not use glue to hold the lenses together inside the eyepiece (it will melt!). We have them available.
Remember to place a filter over the finderscope of your telescope or block it off all together to prevent eye damage from the curious wondering what your looking at. Also, the finderscope can cause a burn and in some plastic cases - melt!
http://www.ceduna.net/dir34/ws.nsf/Publish/196
Since photography is a complex and often difficult and you only get once chance to get it right, I've left it to the experts. Here is 'the' web site:
http://www.mreclipse.com/MrEclipse.html
For a informative web site on the different solar films available visit: http://www.geocities.com/jkty5597/solarinstruments.html
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/asa_www/info_sheets/eclipse2002.html
Its unusual thing that the Sun being so far away and its immense size, compared to the Moon's relative closeness and small size, has the same diameter disc when observed by us.
Every now and then the Earth, Sun and Moon are almost exactly in line in space. When this occurs, either the Sun or Moon is eclipsed. A solar eclipse (eclipse of the Sun) occurs when the Moon moves directly into line between the Sun and the Earth. The circle of the Moon blocks out the Sun. If the Sun is completely covered, the Earth darkens and we call this a 'Total Eclipse of The Sun'. Its not very often this happens. Most eclipses have only part of the Sun covered and these are called 'Partial Eclipses'.
A Total Solar Eclipses can last up to around 7.5 minutes and the Moon's shadow which is cast upon us can be as wide as 285 kilometers in diameter. A Total Solar Eclipses give astronomers a chance to study the solar corona or outer atmosphere of the Sun which has jets, loops, or more commonly, prominences. The only other way this can be done is by a coronagraph, invented in the 1930's, which mimics an Total Solar Eclipse, removing the blinding glare of the Sun (photosphere).
Due to the fear caused by eclipses in primitive societies, records were kept of when they would occur. This was first done by the Babylonians. The regular cycle of eclipses was names 'Saros' by the Greeks and was found to be 18 years, 11 days and is caused by the Moon's eccentric motion round the Earth.
Black Polymer film ($40AUD per sq. ft.) and Solar Eclipse Viewing Glasses ($5AUD each) discounts for quantities.
MOUNTED SOLAR FILTER CAPS FOR TELESCOPES
Sun Filter to suit 60mm telescopes/binoculars $64AUD
Sun Filter to suit 70-90mm telescopes/binoculars $92AUD
Sun Filter to suit 114-120mm telescope/binoculars $99AUD
Sun Filter to suit 130mm telescopes $112AUD
Sun Filter to suit 150-158mm telescopes $135AUD
Larger available
Inexpensive 1" (25mm) Huygen eyepieces $42AUD
Celestron's Range of Sun filters
Vixen Sun Diagonal Prisms (25.4mm) using Sun Glass
Celestron Binocular Sun Filters (2x 60-80mm filters)
Celestron Correction filters for those using Mylar #21 or #23A
Welding Glass No. 12-14 $10AUD
THE SUNSPOTTER
Your whole class can now observe and follow the storms that play havoc with our tiny globe! Sunspotter gives your students the opportunity to track sunspots as they appear, move and vanish. A bright 3" (76mm) solar image is projected in all its glory by the powerful (2.5") 62mm diameter objective lens. Students can easily trace the face of the Sun and compare it from hour to hour and day to day. Easily aligned to the Sun in Seconds, the Sunspotter makes our closest star a subject of study by even the youngest students, without the complication of telescopes, solar filters and tripods.
This unique, wooden, folded Keplerian telescope provides a much safer and convenient way to view the brilliant light of the Sun compared to more common methods. By using a series of mirrors, the device projects an image of the Sun onto a white viewing screen. Unlike other ways of viewing the Sun, the compact and sturdy Sunspotter is convenient, easy to set up, lightweight and fun to use.
The Sunspotter is also a great way to view solar eclipses in complete safety. Please inquire for more information and prices.
